Questions and answers

Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for ��˿�� to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-16939

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that schools (a) provide parity of esteem for and (b) encourage pupils to take up apprenticeship opportunities.

The Scottish Government’s Youth Employment Strategy – Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) has, since its inception in 2014, remained committed to supporting young people by ensuring that a wide range of pathways and routes into apprenticeships are open to young people. As part of that, we created Foundation Apprenticeships (FAs), with partners across the education and skills system. FAs provide a combination of qualifications and work-based learning for young people in the senior phase of school.

Since their introduction in 2016, 15,371 school pupils have enrolled on an FA and they are now available across all Local Authorities. FAs are now recognised by all Colleges and Universities in Scotland and Scottish Government worked with the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) to ensure that FAs have UCAS tariff points for universities. Work has also been undertaken to ensure that FAs at SCQF Level 6 are appropriately recognised in schools metrics.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) undertakes activities to support greater parity of esteem and to encourage pupils to take up apprenticeships. SDS careers advisors deliver information sessions on apprenticeships to all pupils in S2 and S3 as they approach option choices. SDS engages directly with parents and teachers to raise awareness of apprenticeships. FA webinars were held in January and March 2023 with a panel of apprentices, employers and teaching staff to share their experiences. Apprenticeship teaching resources are available on SDS’ My World of Work, this includes an FA Schools Toolkit for teachers and a refreshed apprenticeship CPD module for teachers.

SDS also lead on the annual Scottish Apprenticeship Week campaign, which includes a wide array of school activity, with the aim of promoting Modern, Foundation and Graduate Apprenticeships to young people.

DYW Regional Groups also work with SDS, colleges and training providers to highlight the importance of vocational pathways, including apprenticeships to help young people develop key skills and transition to work. This work is enhanced through the placement of DYW School Coordinators in every mainstream secondary school, to highlight work-based learning and help people take that path that is right for them.

Question reference: S6W-16938

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of apprenticeships, including graduate apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships are a vital resource for employers to invest in their workforce and for people to develop their skills. Investing in skills across people’s lifetimes is critical to our future productivity and success, underlining our commitment to a skilled workforce set out within the National Strategy for Economic Transformation.

Our priority is for high quality apprenticeships that provide sustainable jobs and careers, supporting our transition to net zero.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) have issued contract awards to support up to 25,500 new Modern Apprenticeship starts in 2023-24. This builds upon the 25,000 Modern Apprenticeship starts which Ministers asked SDS to deliver in 2022-23. SDS previously issued contracts in March for over 39,000 Modern Apprentices in training for 2023/24, supporting businesses and individuals across Scotland.

In terms of Graduate Apprenticeships (GA), the Scottish Funding Council published its indicative University Funding Allocations on 13 April 2023 and it is expected that 1,378 GA places will be delivered in 2023-24. This maintains comparable levels of GA starts of that in 2022-23.

Question reference: S6W-17304

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 28 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to reduce the incidence of pre-eclampsia.

The Scottish Government commissioned The Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) to adapt the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) diagnostics guidance, to inform a Scotland-specific approach on placental growth factor (PlGF) based testing which was published on Thursday 23 March 2023. The report highlights the potential benefits to pregnant women and their families and demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of testing.

On the day of the SHTG report’s publication, the Scottish Government wrote to NHS Boards asking all NHS Boards in Scotland to take note of the SHTG Recommendations and work to ensure that all pregnant women who need PlGF testing are able to access it as part of their routine maternity care. My officials will continue to work with The Scottish Perinatal Network as it takes forward its work to support NHS Boards in implementing PlGF testing locally.

Question reference: S6W-17214

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 28 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether foster carers, including those providing short-term or emergency foster care, must obtain a short-term let licence in order to continue to provide this service.

Question reference: S6W-17302

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many women are currently living with endometriosis in the NHS Ayrshire and Arran area.

Question reference: S6W-17303

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is giving consideration to establishing an endometriosis specialist treatment unit in Ayrshire.

The role of specialist endometriosis centres in Scotland is to provide coordinated, multidisciplinary treatment to individuals with complex symptoms of endometriosis and to those requiring complex surgery. Most individuals with endometriosis can be treated by a gynaecologist with training of endometriosis within secondary care.

From 2014-2016 a specialist working group of expert clinicians and representatives from patient groups and Endometriosis UK was established to consider how service provision for endometriosis might be improved. The group recommended the optimal approach for effective treatment of people in Scotland with complex endometriosis was three specialist endometriosis centres. The three centres are in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow and are operational.

Question reference: S6O-02165

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-16940

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 24 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce a complete and enforceable ban on the use of electric shock collars on dogs.

Question reference: S6W-16115

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 22 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the 2023-24 Public Sector Pay Strategy.

Question reference: S6F-01912

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 March 2023

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the UK Government's Spring Budget.